Healey’s cost of living battle just got harder as workers face ‘real terms pay cut’ Economics Andy Burnham and John Healey have spoken at length about efforts to provide “breathing space” to both households and businesses. This task at next week’s Budget has now become more difficult. Over the summer the jobs market continued to weaken. Workers are at risk of being worse off while job seekers are finding it harder [...]
How bad has the ‘cost of living crisis’ really been? Opinion The 'cost of living crisis' has become a well-worn phrase over the last four years, but what do the numbers actually say, asks Paul Ormerod.
Interest rates look set to be held amid bond market pressure Economics The Bank of England is expected to leave Interest rates unchanged even as bond traders raised expectations for upcoming hikes and the Federal Reserve opted to tighten monetary policy in the US. The Bank’s nine-member Monetary Policy Committee is expected to back leaving interest rates at 3.75 per cent although policymakers are set to be [...]
Hold interest rates despite inflation risk, Shadow MPC tells Bank of England September 15, 2026 The Bank of England has been urged to hold interest rates even as inflation is set to peak higher than previously expected due to the continuation of the Iran war, City AM’s Shadow Monetary Policy Committee has said. The Bank should leave interest rates unchanged at 3.75 per cent, according to most top economists in [...]
Private sector wage growth at lowest level in nearly six years September 15, 2026 Private sector wage growth remains at lows not seen in nearly six years in a sign that Britain’s labour market is weakening further ahead of a crunch interest rate decision for the Bank of England on Thursday. New data has shown that the wider UK jobs market cooled further over the summer, adding to a [...]
Bailey warns on inflation risks as Iran war roils UK economy September 8, 2026 Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has warned inflationary pressures are still buffeting the UK economy and energy prices could rise further next year if the war in Iran continues. Speaking to MPs on Tuesday, the Bank chief said inflation risks were “to the upside” and energy prices “could be higher still” due to the [...]
Graduate jobs market slumps to new low August 24, 2026 The UK’s ailing graduate jobs market has slumped to a record low as employment costs surge and firms turn to AI for entry-level roles. The number of graduate vacancies in Britain fell 45.6 per cent to 8,383 in the year to July, undercutting the previous low set in May, according to recruitment firm Adzuna. This [...]
Public sector makes wage growth higher than expected August 18, 2026 Wage growth was higher than expected as pay offers in the public sector far outweighed growth in the private sector, new data has revealed. Official statistics have shown that wage growth, including bonuses, reached 4.1 per cent between April and June compared to a market forecast of four per cent. This was still lower than [...]
Bank of England to hold interest rates as oil price surge threatens UK economy July 26, 2026 The Bank of England is expected to hold interest rates in a split vote on Thursday yet a surge in oil prices could complicate the crucial decision. The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged at 3.75 per cent. Analysts believe that two members, Huw Pill and Megan Greene, could [...]
Sunak calls for minimum wage quango to be abolished May 24, 2026 Former Chancellor and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that his decisions to hike the national minimum wage backfired as he called for a quango overseeing low pay to be abolished. Sunak appeared to admit that his decision to increase the national living wage has contributed to job struggles faced by young people. In an [...]